Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.IMPORTANT!

This is the ROBERT TEMPLE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE. It contains descriptions and notes relating to almost 18,000 titles in the fields of British and American literature, being the bulk of the stock that has passed through our hands since 1984, with the addition of a few earlier items of especial interest. Books currently in stock are not included, and it is therefore necessary to supplement your search by looking at our Current Catalogues. For the most part full bibliographical descriptions are given, though for some earlier items, catalogued when computing space was more restricted the details given are quite brief. For an account of the conventions adopted, the abbreviations used, and reference sources consulted, please see our information pages.

Please note: The arrangement here is the same as that adopted in our current catalogues, and as there our larger files are presented in sections for ease of downloading. At the end of each section you are invited to browse the next.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

A bibliographical puzzle. As far as we can tell, the first American edition, later issue, the inserted advertisements including a notice of this title as ‘12mo, paper covers, 50 cents; cloth, US $1.25. Reprinted by permission from the Seventh London Edition. Also an Edition in 2 Vols. Globe 8vo.' The present copy is an importation of ready bound English sheets bearing the London imprint of Macmillan, and it seems reasonable to assume that this would have been issued in America, and separately advertised there, before the first one volume edition. Though Mrs. Ward's two previous books had been published in England by Macmillan, this book was in fact published in England not by Macmillan but by Smith, Elder, & Co., the first edition being in three volumes, priced at 31s. 6d., and bearing, like this, the date 1888. A one volume edition, priced at 6s., was issued later the same year, followed, if the English Catalogue of Books is to be trusted, by a two volume edition, described by Smith, Elder's as ‘Cabinet Edition, sm.8vo', and priced at 12s. - an order which seems somewhat odd, and leads us to the hypothesis that the two volume edition may have been produced primarily for sale to Macmillan to export. The present edition is certainly in Globe 8vo, the Macmillan format, which would qualify as ‘sm.8vo', and we have described the prelims. of each volume as ‘cancels' because they are a fraction smaller than the rest of the book. Wolff, 7024b records his puzzlement upon encountering this edition - but does not note whether the inserted advertisements in his copy are American.

Sadleir, 3295; Wolff, 7026, recording a poor copy. Issued as the first volume of ‘The Novel Series'. The advertisements at the end advertise the second volume, ‘Lyre and Lancet' by F. Anstey, for publication on July 16th. A story involving robbery and detection, and finally suicide.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[WARD (Robert Plumer).]. Tremaine, Or the Man of refinement. In three volumes. Printed for Henry Colburn, 1825. 3 Vols., lge.12mo; fine copper-plate frontispiece in volume one; half-titles in volumes two and three, none called for in volume one; 2pp. integral advertisements at end of volumes two and three; original drab boards, paper spine labels, uncut edges. Very slight cracking of external joints; end-papers a little foxed and creased; otherwise, and in general, a fine copy.

Sadleir 3301. The author's first novel, and his key title. Scarce in boards.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[WARD (Robert Plumer).]. Colburn's Modern Novelists. Tremaine, In three volumes. Published for Henry Colburn, By Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, February, 1833. Price of the three vols. 12s. bound. 3 Vols., lge.12mo; half-titles not called for; engraved frontispiece with tissue guard in volume one, none called for in other volumes; author's Note leaf at end of volume three. pp.xii+344; [ii]+383+[i (printer's imprint)]; [ii]+380+[i]+[i (printer's imprint)]; (?)publisher's half black calf, spine with five raised bands, ruled and lettered gilt, marbled sides, burnished sprinkled edges, end-papers faced grey-green. Very slight rubbing of calf, but a near fine copy.

Sadleir 3736c(i). Issued as the first title in ‘Colburn's Modern Novelists', 12mo series, 1833 issue. Sadleir would appear to be correct when he says that the 1831 series of ‘Colburn's Modern Novelists' was instituted as a means of working off unsold sheets. He fails, however, to distinguish the 1833 series as a separate issue, and appears indeed never to have located more than a single title belonging to it: ‘Vivian Grey', which he remarks as a curiosity in that it is the only example of a three volume novel he has come across to bear the month as well as the year of issue on its title-pages. It is evident from the present copy of ‘Tremaine' that the whole 1833 issue was so distinguished. Further, if Sadleir had ever seen a copy of the 1833 issue of ‘Tremaine', he would have known that it was not made up of first edition sheets, since the pagination is entirely different. The author's Note leaf inserted at the end of volume three, refers to criticisms made of the story on its original appearance, and is here re-printed from the second edition. The author's first novel, and his key title, published originally in 1825.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[WARD (Robert Plumer).]. De Clifford; Or, The constant man. By the author of ‘Tremaine,' ‘De Vere,' &c. In four volumes.London, Henry Colburn, 1841. 4 Vols., lge.12mo; half-title in volumes one and two, not called for in other volumes; integral leaf publisher's advertisements at end of volume four; pp.[xvi]+376; [iv]+[308]; [ii]+[310]; [ii]+[312]+[ii]; quarter cloth, drab boards, paper spine label. Paper labels very slightly frayed, and a worm-hole affecting the upper inner margins of three leaves in volume two; otherwise a very nice copy.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WARREN (Frederick). Only one other. A Novel In two volumes. Remington and Co Publishers, Henrietta Street Covent Garden, 1885. 2 Vols., bound in one, as issued, lge.f'cap 8vo; pp.[iv]+266; [iv]+248; red buckram, ruled black on front cover and spine, lettered gilt on spine. Recased, with new end-papers (coated yellow, in period style); covers somewhat marked and used, and corners worn; first few leaves a little dusty; otherwise a nice copy.

Not in Sadleir. The last leaf of volume one is here a single inset, suggesting the possibility that a conjugate advertisement leaf or blank may have been present in the two volume issue, but has here been excised by the publisher's binder in the course of making up this volume. Both half-titles, however, have been retained.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WARREN (Samuel). Ten Thousand a-year. A new edition, carefully revised, with notes And illustrations. In two volumes. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh, 1854. Series title in volume two only, lacking in volume one; half-titles probably not called for; Preface, dedication, Contents to volume one, and new 1854 Preface to ‘Now and Then', issued in the same series, all bound in error into volume two; one engraved plate in each volume, probably intended as frontispiece, but bound in at point illustrated; contemporary ripple grain blue cloth blocked blind, ruled and lettered gilt, on spine. In general a nice copy.

Includes a new long Preface, specially written for this edition, as well as ten pages of authorial Notes and Illustrations, here first published. Issued as volumes I and II of the collected edition of the Works. Printed in double column. Not in Sadleir.

All the contributions are anonymous. The curious choice of start and finish dates for this run of ‘Something to Read' is explained by the fact that a novel, ‘The Ordeal of Miriam Cassilis', appeared complete in these twenty numbers, and that the volume was bound up for H. Sidney Warwick, whose pencilled signature appears on the front end-paper, and who has identified himself, in pencil, as the author. The story has been at several points marked in pencil possibly with a view to making cuts required for a later reprinting. In view of the source and the selection of issues, one might also perhaps conclude that the novelettes in the two addition sections may also have been by Warwick. A later owner has added a note on Warwick in ink to the front end-paper. Included also in the volume are a number of other complete novels, ‘Sir Lionel's Wife' by the author of ‘The Secret of the Ruby Key', ‘Under a Siren's Spell', ‘The Web of Fate', etc.; ‘A Dangerous Gift' by the author of ‘For Somebody's Sake', ‘A Sin or an Error', ‘Whitebird Featherless', etc; several short stories; and the early or late chapters of a number of other novels including the bulk of ‘Lady Chatter; Or, The Modern School for Scandal' by the author of ‘A Woman with a Secret', ‘Powder and Patches', ‘The Sins of the World', etc.

Not in Sadleir or Wolff. The correct first issue, with the shorter form of the Simpkin, Marshall imprint. A romantic adventure story involving the loss of a will, kidnapping, and attempted murder. Not in Hubin, and not conventionally a crime story. In this copy p.179, l.3, has the reading ‘me' for ‘we' (issue significance, if any, not known).

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WATSON (H.B. Marriott). At the First Corner And other stories. London: John Lane, Vigo St.; Boston: Roberts Bros., 1895. Narrow cr.8vo; blank before half-title; decorated title-page and design on verso of Contents leaf by Aubrey Beardsley; 10+16pp. publisher's inserted catalogues at end, on text-paper, the latter dated 1895; violet buckram blocked on sides and spine, ruled and lettered on front cover, dated on back cover, in grey, blocked and lettered gilt on spine; a.e. uncut. Slight creasing at head and tail of spine, and cloth a little snagged at fore-edge of back cover; enamel slightly rubbed on front cover; end-papers slightly cracked, back paste-down scuffed and chipped by removal of large label, and facing free end-paper spottily embrowned; otherwise a nice copy.

Issued as Volume XI of the ‘Keynotes Series'. Sadleir 3748. The covers were designed by Aubrey Beardsley.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WATSON (H.B. Marriott). The Rebel: Being A Memoir of Anthony, fourth Earl of Cherwell, Including an Account of the Rising at Taunton in 1684, Compiled and set forth by his Cousin, Sir Hilary Mace, Bart., Custos Rotulorum for the County of Wilts. Edited, with some Notes by H.B. Marriott Watson Author of "The Princess Xenia," "The Adventurers,' [sic] etc. London: William Heinemann, 1900. Blank before half-title; pp.[2]+vi+311+[i (printer's imprint)]; publisher's inserted 32pp. catalogue at end; unglazed tan coarse linen, blocked with publisher's device blind on back cover, blocked and lettered gilt on front cover, lettered gilt on spine; top- and fore- edges uncut, lower-edges rough trimmed. Nice copy.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WEBBE (Cornelius). The Posthumous papers, Facetious and fanciful, Of A person lately about town. London: William Sams, Royal Library, St. James's Street, 1828. Post 8vo; half-title precedes wood-engraved frontispiece; that and five plates drawn and cut by Heath; pp.[xii]+304; contemporary half-calf, tooled gilt on sides, matching marbled boards, end-papers, and edges. Spine lacking, and boards detached; scattered very light foxing; some marginal damp-staining to plates; in general internally a nice copy.

Advance copy, possibly for review. Inscribed on the upper margin of the title-page, conceivably in Webbe's hand: "Printer of the Spectator, / with the publisher's / and author's compliments." The book as published was anonymous. This book is sometimes said to have influenced the titling, and possibly the humour, of "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club", which began its publication some eight years later. Besides the English pieces in the volume, several are concerned with Turkish, or otherwise Moslem, themes. There is no list of plates, but they are here bound in to face pp.58, 80, 119, 249, and 281. In this copy the last line of p.286 has a ‘1' instead of an ‘i' in ‘it'. NCBEL, 3: 405

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[WEBBE (Cornelius)]. The Posthumous papers, Facetious and fanciful, Of A person lately about town. London: William Sams, Royal Library, St. James's Street, 1828. Post 8vo; half-title precedes wood-engraved frontispiece; that and five plates drawn and cut by Heath; pp.[xii]+304; later quarter cloth, marbled sides, sprinkled edges; brown end-papers. Some foxing, and a very little dusting; one or two corners turned before binding; name torn from upper margin of title page, and last leaf torn at inner margin; otherwise a nice copy.

This book is sometimes said to have influenced the titling, and possibly the humour, of "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club", which began its publication some eight years later. Besides the English pieces in the volume, several are concerned with Turkish, or otherwise Moslem, themes. There is no list of plates, but they are here bound in to face pp.58, 80, 119, 249, and 281. NCBEL, 3: 405

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WEBB (Mrs. J.B.). The Martyrs of Carthage. "A tale of the times of old." By Mrs. J.B. Webb, Author of "Naomi," "Julamerk," &c. In two volumes. Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, 1850. 2 Vols., f'cap 8vo; half-title not called for in volume two; pp.viii+328; [ii]+309+[i (imprint)]; vertically fine ribbed puce cloth, ruled and blocked blind on sides and spine, lettered and with two short rules gilt on spine; top- and fore- edges uncut, lower-edges mainly trimmed; end-papers coated yellow and printed with publisher's advertisements in dark brown on facing surfaces. Some fading of covers; three end-papers cracked; scattered light foxing, and a few small marks in text; a very good copy, nonetheless.

Presentation copy, with the author's holograph inscription to two members of her family: "Ann & Elizth. Webb. / With the Author's / love -/ Feby. 1850" on the blank back of the front end-paper of volume one, and a similar but shorter inscription on that of volume two. Not in Sadleir or Block; Wolff, 7099. Published, according to the Bentley Private Catalogue, on January 30th. The prelims. of volume one, and the title-page of volume two, were printed conjugate with the three leaves of the final gathering, ‘X', of volume two, making up one full sheet.

Rebound small format yellowbacks. Issued as volumes 13 and 2 respectively in the ‘Run and Read Library'. Sadleir, 3673/2 & 13: neither title present in the Sadleir collection. Both volumes were printed in Ipswich by Burton. ‘The Autobiography of a Five Pound Note' is here first published; ‘The Pilgrims of New England' first appeared in 1852.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WEIGALL (C.E.C.). The temptation of Dulce Carruthers. Cassell and Company Limited, London Paris & Melbourne, 1893. Sm.cr.8vo; integral blank at front and back, serving as paste-downs; half-title not called for; wood-engraved frontispiece with tissue guard; pp.188+[ii]; inserted leaf of publisher's advertisements, on thinner paper, follows last leaf of text; pale pink glazed fine linen, cut flush, laid onto blanks, blocked and lettered in black and terra-cotta on front cover, printed with commercial advertisement in black on back cover, lettered black up spine. Blanks foxed, with off-setting; two or three scattered fox-spots elsewhere; nonetheless a very nice copy of a scarce book.

The limp linen is an evident compromise beween a paperback and a hardback (rather like the modern ‘midway' edition). Issued in July 1893 at 1/-, apparently as the first volume of ‘Cassell's Sunshine Series', six further volumes being advertised as ‘forthcoming'. According to the English Catalogue of Books, they followed a monthly schedule, at least thirteen volumes eventually appearing - though the last of the scheduled volumes listed here was in fact replaced with another by the same author.

According to a printed note on the verso of the half-title ‘the design on the cover . . . was specially engraved by William Nicholson'. One wonders whether he had any further hand in the design of the volume, which is certainly unusual: the entire wording of the title-page, for example is set in a justified block of expanded 12pt. capitals, forming six lines of the same measure as the body text, this being placed with its foot one third of the way down the page, which, apart from a small type ornament, centrally place just beneath, is otherwise left blank. The note on the verso of the half-title, in six-point capitals, is similarly set to balance it, but at the foot of the page, and with Nicholson's name ranged, on a line by itself, to the right margin, to give the smaller text block added weight - the inspiration of all this being presumably the Kelmscott Press. The author was an American in the diplomatic service. This was his first novel: an English Society novel, with Americans - and an elephant. Wright, 5859, listing the New York edition of the same year, which had an entirely different setting of text (and, presumably, cover design!).

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WELLS (H.G.). Select Conversations With An uncle (Now extinct) And two other Reminiscences. London: John Lane; New York, The Merriam Company, 1895. F'cap 8vo; blank before half-title; illustrated title-page by F.H. Townsend; blank at end, followed by 16pp. inserted publisher's catalogue on text-paper, dated 1895; vertically ribbed moiré rose silver cloth, lettered and with short rule gilt on spine; t.e.g., others uncut. Slight foxing of cloth on sides; spine a little darkened; otherwise a nice copy of an uncommon and somewhat delicate book.

Not in Sadleir; this title not in Wolff; Currey, p.522. Includes twelve ‘conversations' and two stories. Issued as Volume III in the series ‘The Mayfair Set'. According to a letter written by Wells to Dent, quoted in Locke's ‘Spectrum II', the edition was limited to 500 copies.

Not in Sadleir; this title not in Wolff; Currey, p.527. First issue, p.[314] bearing the printer's imprint, and with integral advertisements. Currey is in error in referring to the catalogue as ‘inserted'. The second issue (presumably in fact a second printing) has p.[314] entirely blank, and is without advertisements.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WELLS (H.G.). Love and Mr. Lewisham: The Story of a Very Young Couple. London and New York: Harper & Brothers, 45 Albemarle Street, W., 1900. Leaf blank but for signature mark ‘*' precedes half-title; 4pp. integral advertisements at end; pp.[iv]+iv+323+[i (printer's imprint)]+4; dark red and scarlet linen-effect buckram, ruled white on front cover, lettered gilt on front cover and spine; fore- and lower- edges uncut. Cloth of spine very slightly faded, and some foxing passim; otherwise a very nice copy. In our experience a very scarce title.

First English and first published edition, preceded by a very small edition printed in America in order to secure copyright. The English edition preceded the American trade edition by about three months. Currey, p.521; not in Sadleir; this title not in Wolff. Reputedly, much of the first edition was destroyed in a warehouse fire.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WEMYSS (George). A Fantasy in fustian. Downey and Co., 12, York Street, Covent Garden, London, 1899. Final blank; pp.[iv]+309+[i (printer's imprint)]+[ii]; vertically ribbed green cloth, blocked with publisher's monogram blind on back cover, lettered and with ruled box, gilt, on front cover and spine. Unobtrusive restoration to cloth at extreme top corner of back joint; small, old, library stamp on front paste-down, and decorative early caligraphic ownership inscription on front end-paper; slight foxing to final blank; otherwise, and in general effect, a very nice, crisp, copy.

A delightful novel, set among the rustics of East Hampshire, and excellently reproducing their accent and modes of speech.

First published in America the previous year. This edition contains, besides the Birkett Foster illustrations, a Preface to the English Edition (dated from New York, March 24, 1852) not included in the American edition. Not in Sadleir. Wolff, 7063 and 7063a records two variant copies, both different from the present copy. One is 5" x 7 3/4", bound in rose-madder ripple grain cloth, and collating as the present copy, though it is, according to Wolff's statement, without the Preface to the English Edition (which is puzzling in itself: what does fill the vacant leaf?). The second is 4 9/16" x 7", bound in blue morocco cloth, differently blocked, with a frontispiece and two illustrations, but no vignette title, and collating viii (including a half-title) + [344 (including 4pp. advertisements)]; [iv]+321. Wolff states that this copy includes the Preface to the English Edition (which is puzzling again, since the presence of a half-title in volume one means that it has one leaf less of prelims. available to accommodate it). The present edition, which is that usually seen, measures 4 7/8" x 7 1/2". We would suggest that Wolff's first copy is a trial copy or proof prepared before the Preface to the English Edition had been set up, and that his second copy is a later reprint, the present copy representing the regular first edition as published. Despite the date on the title page the English edition was advertised for publication, according to the English Catalogue of Books (where it is listed under title but not author), in April 1852, and the date of the Preface suggests therefore that it must have been put out with a considerable rush.

The author's first book. Sadleir 3308, recording a copy in the original smooth pale grey cloth, blocked scarlet, green, violet, and black, lettered black, on front cover, lettered gilt on spine, and with end-papers printed with publisher's device pale grey; Wolff, 7148, recording an otherwise similar (if rather poor) copy with the end-papers printed very pale yellow green. Described by Sadleir as a ‘difficult' title.

The author's second book and the first of his three multi-deckers. Sadleir 3312, recording a copy in the original smooth dark blue cloth, blocked and lettered in black on front cover, lettered gilt on spine; Wolff, 7153 (the same copy). Described by Sadleir, justly, as a ‘difficult' title.

Issued as one of the first three volumes in ‘Cassell's International Series' (the others being ‘The Faith Doctor' by Edward Eggleston and ‘Dr. Dumany's Wife' by Maurus J•kai), the series name being given only on the spine. The first issue, on large paper, later copies being of ordinary cr.8vo format and without series designation. Sadleir mentions that the series was intended, as stated in the end-paper advertisement, to take advantage of "the passing of the American Copyright Act". (It mentions also that ‘The Faith Doctor' "was the first volume registered in America under" that Act). It is odd in view of his interest in the decline of the three-decker that Sadleir does not mention that the advertisement goes on: "A further feature of this series is that the works will be published at a Uniform Price of 7s. 6d. net . . . instead of in the usual three-volume form." It looks in fact as though this Series should be added to the list of those given by Sadleir that tried to challenge the three volume form, and it is interesting that though the three-decker was dying at this point the Series still appears to have failed. Sadleir 3313, describing this issue as ‘rare'; Wolff, 7160, listing the Sadleir copy. The author's third book.

Binder's stamp of Morrell on verso of front free end-paper. This title not in Sadleir; Wolff, 7151a, listing a copy in original olive green cloth embossed blind on sides and spine, and lettered gilt on front cover and spine, but giving an erroneous collation of the prelims. First issued in a different setting of text in ‘Yuletide: Cassell's Christmas Number for 1893' where it occupies pp.3-32. In our experience a difficult title.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WEYMAN (Stanley). Under The red robe. Illustrated by R. Caton Woodville. In two volumes. Methuen & Co., 36 Essex Street, 1894. 2 Vols.; frontispiece with tissue guard, and five plates in volume one; six plates in volume two; publisher's inserted 24pp. catalogue dated April 1894 in each volume, at end of volume one, followed by integral blank at end of volume two; vertical rib effect scarlet cloth, lettered gilt on front cover and spine; a.e. uncut. Neat restorations to cloth at head and tail of spines; gilt slightly dull on spines; covers very slightly marked and mottled; otherwise a very nice copy.

Sadleir, 3314. Listed as one of the ‘"difficult"' titles. Wolff, 7161.

Sadleir, 3311, recording only the twenty copy limited edition, published at ten guineas, which was printed in February 1894. The trade edition was not issued until October. The title-page at least was reset for the trade edition (which may, of course differ textually as well), the title page of the limited edition giving a fuller version of the publisher's address. Wolff, 7152 and 7152a, records respectively the limited edition (Sadleir's copy) and the trade edition. Neither Sadleir nor Wolff mention the error on the title-page. This may be merely an oversight. If it is not, the present copy presumably represents the first issue of the trade edition. There is no list of plates, but they are bound in to face pp.56, 124, 202, 268, 321, 353, and 393.

Not in Sadleir; Wolff, 7156, describing the colour of both cloth and end-papers as ‘black'. There are at least two variants of the binding (precedence, if any, undetermined): one in dark grey-green cloth with matt black end-papers, as here; the other in dull grey-green cloth with glazed very dark green end-papers. It is possible that the cloth of the Wolff copy had darkened. We, at any rate, have never seen a copy in cloth of a true black colour.

Not in Sadleir; Wolff, 7156, describing the colour of both cloth and end-papers as ‘black'. There are at least two variants of the binding (precedence, if any, undetermined): one in dark grey-green cloth with matt black end-papers, as here; the other in dull grey-green cloth with glazed very dark green end-papers. It is possible that the cloth of the Wolff copy had darkened. We, at any rate, have never seen a copy in cloth of a true black colour.

Not in Sadleir; Wolff, 7156, describing the colour of both cloth and end-papers as ‘black'. There are at least two variants of the binding (precedence, if any, undetermined): one in dull grey-green cloth with glazed very dark green end-papers, as here; the other in dark grey-green cloth with matt black end-papers. It is possible that the cloth of the Wolff copy had darkened. We, at any rate, have never seen a copy in cloth of a true black colour.

Not in Sadleir; this title not in Wolff, who does however include an unacknowledged reprint of the 1884 title ‘Tip Cat' (dating from 1888) without noticing its status. Wolff gives the author's first name as ‘Emily' in the Index and ‘Evelyn' in the heading of his entry. BLC says ‘Evelyn'.

Not in Sadleir; this title not in Wolff, who does however include an unacknowledged reprint of the 1884 title ‘Tip Cat' (dating from 1888) without noticing its status. Wolff gives the author's first name as ‘Emily' in the Index and ‘Evelyn' in the heading of his entry. BLC says ‘Evelyn'.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

WHITBY (Beatrice). In the suntime of her youth. In three volumes. Hurst and Blackett, Limited, 13, Great Marlborough Street, 1893. 3 Vols.; 16+8pp. publisher's catalogues at end of volume three, on text paper; green cloth lettered in black on front cover, and in gilt on spine; top- and fore- edges uncut; brown coated end-papers. Spines frayed a little at head and tail, back joint of volume one repaired, small library label on each front cover; end-papers cracked; fore-margin of front free end-paper and half-title page in each volume very slightly frayed; small tear in fore-margin of first four leaves in volume one, not affecting text; two or three leaves slightly foxed; otherwise a nice copy.

A scarce Beatrice Whitby title, not in Sadleir or Wolff. Social comedies, the whole very readable and sometimes clever, but the title-story, a short novel, stands out, apart from the unfortunate compulsion towards a happy ending, as an unusual conception, movingly achieved.

Not in Sadleir or Wolff. We have not succeeded in identifying the author of this novel, which is dedicated to Lord Alington. According to the author's Preface, it is a "tale, founded on personal reminiscences". A handsome volume.